Q. How do I determine a Comic Book’s Grade (Condition)?
Answer: There are 14 basic conditions that a comic book could fall user: Below is a brief overview of each grade and value. We suggest using the Overstreet standard ONE (Overstreet Numerical Equivalency) grading process.
1. Mint (MT) (9.9 to 10.0)
Near perfect in every way. Only the most subtle bindery or printing defects are allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimal fading. Corners are cut square and sharp. Staples are generally centered, clean with no rust. Cover is generally well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and fresh. Spine is tight and flat.
2. Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT) (9.8)
A comic book that has enough detracting qualities to keep it from being a Mint 9.9 comic book, but has a better appearance than a copy that has earned a Near Mint 9.7 grade.
3. Near Mint (NM) (9.2 to 9.7)
Nearly perfect with only minor imperfections allowed. This grade should have no corers of impact creases, stress marks should be almost invisible, and bindery tears should be less than 1/16 inch. A couple of very tiny color flecks, or a combination of the above that keeps the book from being perfect, where the overall eye appeal is less than Mint drops the book into this grade. Only the most subtle binging and/or printing defects allowed. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks are bright with high reflectivity and minimum fading. Corners are cut square and sharp with ever so slight blunting permitted. Staples are generally centered, clean with no rust. Cover is well centered and firmly secured to interior pages. Paper is supple and like new. Spine is tight and flat.
4. Very Fine/Near Mint (VF/NM) (9.0)
A comic book that has enough positive qualities to make it better than a Very Fine 8.5 comic book, but has enough detracting qualities to keep it from being a Near Mint 9.7 comic book.
5. Very Fine (VF) (7.5 to 8.5)
An excellent copy with outstanding eye appeal. Sharp, bright and clean with supple pages. Cover is relatively flat with almost no surface wear. Cover inks are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. Staples may show some discoloration. Spine may have a couple of almost insignificant transverse stress lines and is almost completely flat. A barely unnoticeable ¼ inch crease is acceptable, if color is not broken. Pages and covers can be yellowish/tannish (at the least, but no brown and will usually be off-white to white).
6. Fine/Very Fine (FN/VF) (7.0)
A comic book that has enough positive qualities to make it better than a Fine 6.5 comic book, but has enough detracting qualities to keep it from being a Very Fine 8.5 comic book.
7. Fine (FN) (5.5 to 6.5)
An above-average copy that shows minor wear but is still relatively flat and clean with no significant creasing or serious defects. Eye appeal is somewhat reduced because of slight surface wear and possibly a small defect such as a few slight cross stress marks on spine or a very slight spine split (1/4”). A fine condition book appears to have been read a few times and has been handled with moderate care. Compare to a VF, cover inks are beginning to show a significant reduction in reflectivity, but it is still a highly collectible and desirable book. Pages and interior covers may be tan, but pages must still be fairly supple with no signs of brittleness.
A comic book that has enough positive qualities to make it better than a Very Good 5.0 comic book, but has enough detracting qualities to keep it from being a Fine 6.5 comic book.
9. Very Good (VG) (3.5 to 4.5)
The average used comic book. A comic in this grade shows some wear, can have a reading or center crease or a moderately rolled spine, but has not accumulated enough total defects to reduce eye appeal to the point that it is not a desired copy. Some discoloration, fading and even minor soiling is allowed. As much as a ¼ inch triangle can be missing out of the corner or edge. A missing square piece (1/8” by 1/8”) is also acceptable. Store stamps, name stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no effect on this grade. Cover and interior pages can have some minor tears and folds and the centerfold may be detached at one staple. The cover may also be loose, but not completely detached. Common bindery and printing defects do not affect grade. Pages and inside covers may be brown but not brittle. Tape should never be used for comic book repairs; however, many VG condition comics have minor tape repair.
10. Good/Very Good (GD/VG) (3.0)
A comic book that has enough positive qualities to make it better than a Good 2.5 comic book, but has enough detracting qualities to keep it from being a Very Good 4.5 comic book.
11. Good (GD) (1.8 to 2.5)
A copy in this grade has all pages and covers, although There may be small pieces missing inside; the largest piece allowed from front or back cover is a ½” triangle or square ¼” by ¼”. Books in this grade are commonly creased, scuffed, abraded, soiled and may have as much as a 2” spine split, but are still completely readable. Often, paper quality is low but not brittle. Cover reflectivity is low, and in some cases, completely absent. This grade can have a moderate accumulation of defects, but still maintains its basic structural integrity.
12. Fair/Good (FR/GD) (1.5)
A comic book that has enough positive qualities to make it better than a Fair+ comic book, but has enough detracting qualities to keep it from being a Good- comic book. In most cases, the comic book has a better appearance than a copy that has earned a Fair+ grade.
13. Fair (FR) (1.0)
A comic book in this grade is usually soiled, ragged, and possible unattractive. Creases, tears and/or folds are prevalent in a comic book of this grade. Spine may be split up to two-thirds of its entire length. Staples may be gone. Up to one-tenth of the front cover may be missing. These comic books are readable, although soiling, staining, tears, markings, or chunks of pages missing may moderately interfere with a collector’s ability to read the entire story. Some collectors consider this the lowest collectible grade because comic books in lesser condition are usually defaced and/or brittle. Very often, the paper quality of a fair graded comic book is low and may have slight brittleness around the edges but in the central portion of the pages. Comic books in this grade may have clipped coupon, so long as it is noted alongside of the nomenclature; i.e.: “Fair (1.0) Coupon clipped.” Value at 50% to 70% of a Good-graded comic book.
14. Poor (PR) (0.5)
Most comic books in this grade have been sufficiently degraded to the point that copies may have extremely severe stains, missing staples, brittleness, mildew, and/or moderate to heavy cover abrasions to the point that some cover inks are indistinct, if not absent. Comic books in this grade can have small chunks missing and pieces out of pages. They have been defaced with paints, varnishes, glues, oil, indelible markers or dyes. Covers may be split the entire length of the book, but both halves must be present with only some chunks of it missing. A page or pages may be missing as long as it is noted along side of the nomenclature; i.e.: “Poor (0.5) Second page missing. “Value depends on defects, but would average about one-third of a good-graded comic book.
Q. What is CGC?
Answer: CGC is the Comic Guaranty Corporation. An independent grader of Comics. www.cgccomics.com
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